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Sino-German Agricultural Centre
(DCZ)
中德农业中心
Sino-German Agricultural and Food
Update
中德农业与食品通讯
No. 13 November 2020 – February 2021
Disclaimer This newsletter is published under the responsibility of the Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ), which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). All views and results, conclusions, proposals or recommendations stated therein are the property of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the BMEL. Reprints or reproduction of any kind only with permission of the publisher. Published by Sino-German Agricultural Centre 中德农业中心 Room 724-27, Zhong Ou Hotel, 北京市朝阳区农展北路 55 号中欧宾馆 55 Nongzhan Beilu, Chaoyang District, 724-27 室（麦子店街，近盛福大厦） 100125 Beijing, PR China 邮编：100125 Info-dcz@iakleipzig.de Info-dcz@iakleipzig.de www.dcz-china.org www.dcz-china.org Implemented by In partnership with
Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
中德农业与食品通讯
No. 13 November 2020 - February 2021
In this issue
Foreword
Cover Story
• Highlights of 2021 No.1 Document
Good to Know
• Politics and Law: Leadership change at MARA; and more...
• Economics and Trade: Anti-COVID measures on imported frozen food; and more...
• Science: Five Chinese agricultural universities among the top ten of world
agricultural universities; and more...
DCZ Activities
• 6th Sino-German Agricultural Week held in Beijing
• Participation in Seminar on EU-China Agreement on Geographical Indications (GIs)
• Participation in Workshop “Chinese Investment in Europe”
• Participation in “Insights on Agriculture and Rural Affairs” Forum by CAAS
• DCZ S&T Platform participates in International Conference on Progress in Manure
and Digestate
DCZ in the Media
• “Growth Center” – Article in China Daily introduces the DCZ
Bilateral Research Cooperation
Call for Papers
Useful Websites
Recommended Reading
Upcoming Events 2021
Imprint
Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update Foreword Dear colleagues, partners and friends, We hope you had a smooth and healthy start in the Year 2021 and the Year of the Buffalo. This edition of the DCZ newsletter covers a period of four months – and despite the holiday season they were quite eventful. Already in December the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs announced the arrival of the new minister, Mr. Tang Renjian, who succeeds Mr. Han Changfu in this position. You will find a brief introduction of the new minister in this edition. The Ministry’s key areas and objectives for 2021 and the coming years are formulated in the new Central Document No. 1, published on 21 February, outlining the expected direction of develop- ment in the title “Comprehensively Promoting Rural Revitalization and Accelerating Agricultural and Rural Modernization”. To ensure the achievements in the field of poverty alleviation continued support will be provided during a transition period. Rural revitalization, green development and food security are continued as general development goals while the emphasis on the seeds indus- try and research is a significant, new feature in this Document. The enhanced development of the seed sector, seeds as “microchips of agriculture”, are identified as a key to addressing many agricul- tural issues. The DCZ expert Dr. Aihemaitijiang Rouzi presents and analyses the highlights of the Central Documents in the Cover Story. Of course, this newsletter also fills you in on a selection of our own activities, in particular a review of the Sino-German Agricultural Week (30 November to 3 December 2020), which this time also included the Agribusiness Conference. The COVID-19 situation did not allow the physical participa- tion of German representatives of the BMEL and other experts, but thanks to the available technol- ogy this hybrid event with online and on-site contributions by high-level decision-makers and excel- lent experts addressed meaningful issues in the fields of “Modern Farm Management”, “Smart Ag- riculture” and “Security and Nutrition in a Changing World”. Furthermore, interesting news is compiled in the “Good to Know” section, and for the purpose of “self-promotion” I would like to draw your attention to an additional website established by the DCZ and dedicated to the topic “Smart Agriculture” at https://smart-agriculture.org/. You will find interviews with decision-makers, practitioners and experts which are the result of a “virtual study tour” with subtitles in German, English and Chinese. We hope this edition of the DCZ newsletter can again provide you with some interesting and valua- ble information and wish you happy reading. With best wishes Dr. Jürgen Ritter Managing Director Sino-German Agricultural Centre (DCZ) 2
Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
Cover Story 2021’s No. 1 Document put heavy empha-
sis on consolidating the achievements of
poverty eradication.
Highlights of 2021 No.1 Document The Document No. 1 proposes that after
Dr. Aihemaitijiang Rouzi, DCZ, Beijing the completion of the poverty alleviation
goals and tasks in 2020, a five-year transi-
The Central Committee of the Communist tion period will be established for counties
Party of China and the State Council jointly who have escaped poverty. The document
released the Document No. 1 on 21 February also recommends establishing a monitor-
2021. This year’s Document No. 1 is in line ing system to prevent returning to poverty
with China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP) for and an assistance mechanism. To keep the
2021-2025 and economic goals set out to
momentum, mass-scale employment, rural
2035. This document is entitled “Opinions of industrialization, infrastructure develop-
the Central Committee of the Communist ment and social management initiatives
Party of China and the State Council on Com- will be initiated and expanded. The docu-
prehensively Promoting Rural Revitalization ment requires that during the transition
and Accelerating Agricultural and Rural Mod- period, overall stability of the current main
ernization”. The document includes five ma-
assistance policies will be maintained in
jor sections and 26 paragraphs and clearly order to achieve the transition from pov-
lists the targets and tasks concerning agricul- erty alleviation to comprehensive promo-
ture and rural areas for 2021, as well as a tion of rural revitalization. During this peri-
broader vision for the period up to 2025. od, social assistance to farmers will be con-
I Major highlights of 2021 Document No. 1 tinued. The document also instructed to
establish low-income population monitor-
1. Poverty eradication: 2020 was the year
ing system where targeted employment
that China eliminated extreme poverty,
and social assistance programs can be initi-
which is defined as earning less than $620
ated to help those who are concerned.
a year, according to China’s official poverty
Central and western regions of China will
definition (BBC). On 25 February 2021,
be in the main focus of these efforts. Farm-
President Xi declared complete victory on
ers’ income will be doubled from 2010 lev-
“eradicating extreme poverty”. "According
el. After the release of the document, on
to the current criteria, all 98.99 million
25 February 2021, the National Rural Revi-
poor rural population have been taken out
of poverty, and 832 poverty-stricken coun- talization Bureau (国家乡村振兴局) has
ties as well as 128,000 villages have been been established under the Ministry of
removed from the poverty list," Xi said Agriculture and Rural Affairs to consolidate
(BBC). That definition of the poverty line as the achievements of poverty eradication
less than 4,000 yuan ($620) a year, or and promote rural revitalization. This new
$1.69 per day is less than the World Bank’s Bureau replaces the former “State council
threshold of $1.90 a day and well below office for poor region’s economic develop-
the $5.50 per day that economists recom- ment” (Sina). At vice-ministerial level the
mend for upper-middle-income countries new bureau provides a powerful admin-
(Washington Post). Hence, despite these istration which will give a new momentum
achievements, China still has a long way to to China’s rural revitalization efforts.
tackle relative poverty and structural ine-
qualities in the years to come. Therefore,
3
Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
2. Rural revitalization: A modernized rural and promotion of combatting desertifica-
industrial production system shall be es- tion, soil pollution prevention and water
tablished in which village, township and protection measures.
counties will be integrated into broader
4. Food security: The document states that
agricultural value chains. It is aimed that
functional grain production zones and im-
by 2025, 500 modern agricultural demon-
portant agricultural zones should be con-
stration zones will be established. The
structed, and a national food security pro-
“Ten thousand enterprises in ten thou-
duction belt should be established. The
sand villages” campaign should be initiat-
document emphasizes to keep the “red
ed to further enhance the development of
line” of 1.8 billion mu (120 million hec-
villages. Rural road construction, rural
tare) of arable land for food security and
drinking water infrastructure, rural sanita-
aims to sustain 100 million mu (6.6 million
tion, clean toilet initiatives, rural digitaliza-
hectare) of high-quality farmland to en-
tion, improvements in integrated function
sure high yields and stable production
of the village will be realized. By 2025,
through 2021. The use of farmland for
running drinking water coverage in rural
“non- agricultural” purposes and conver-
areas will be increased to 88%. Following
sion of croplands to production of
the given plan, the modernization of agri-
nongrain crops should be curbed and
culture and rural areas will reach signifi-
strictly controlled. Overall food grain pro-
cant progress by 2025 and the construc-
duction will be kept above 650 million
tion of rural infrastructure and moderniza-
tons. A policy system in which provincial
tion will be basically completed. The digi-
governors are responsible for food securi-
tal rural development will be intensified
ty and municipal mayors are responsible
by further expansion of 5G, mobile and
for the “vegetable basket” will be imple-
internet-based logistics.
mented and continued.
3. Rural green development: As in previous
The document stresses the importance of
No. 1 documents, the 2021 document sets
insuring “grain, cotton, oil, sugar and
a focus on soil rehabilitation, especially of
meat” supply security. The document also
the degraded fertile black soil in China’s
states that the policy to guarantee mini-
North-eastern grain belt. As in former doc-
mum prices for rice and wheat will be con-
uments, it stresses that reliance on miner-
tinued, corn and soybean will continue to
al fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides
be targeted by the existing subsidy policy.
shall be reduced and green agricultural
Experimental zones for testing cost and
development shall be promoted, Agri-
income insurances for rice, wheat and corn
chemical packages recycle campaign
will be established and expanded. To op-
should be initiated. The document further
timize agricultural trade, agricultural im-
proposes to establish a series of experi-
port diversification will be implemented
mental counties for agricultural pollution
and companies’ entrance into the global
control along the Yangtze and Yellow river
agricultural supply chain will be supported.
economic belt. In addition, it is stressed to
improve monitoring and certification of 1
“green” agriculture products1. The docu- It should be noted that there are two official terms:
“green” (lüse) is more general environmentally friendly
ment further stresses the importance of production, but not necessarily fully avoiding the use of
“returning farmlands into forests”, the agrichemicals). Organic (youji) refers to certified organ-
grassland restoration compensation policy ic products (without use of agrochemicals).
4
Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
According to the document, reliable pork could provide valuable lessons for Chinese
production will be sustained, the lamb and rural green development. German compa-
beef sector will be actively developed, and nies also could offer collaboration in seed
the milk sector will be revitalized. For the and breeding sector with their Chinese
first time, the No.1 Document notes the counterparts. China can also share its ad-
prevention of food waste and proposes vancements in digitalization of the agricul-
food waste prevention in production, ture and agri-food e-commerce technology.
transportation, storage and consumption. Although Sino-German agricultural trade
was impacted by the outbreak of swine flu
5. Seed and breeding: The document states
in Germany and COVID-19, trade opportu-
that the development and utilization of
nities for the two countries in the agri-food
agricultural seed sources/germplasm
sector can be expected to expand in the
should be strengthened, and a national
future.
germplasm bank should be established.
The implementation of major scientific Sources cited:
and technological projects in agricultural
https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?
biological breeding shall gain momentum.
id=1692354477179416559&wfr=spider&for
It is stated that a plan for new series of
=pc
genetically improved poultry and animal
breeding and plant seeds should be real- http://www.xinhuanet.com/politics/2021-
ized and the application of biological 02/21/c_1127122097.htm
breeding should also be promoted. Fur- http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2021-
thermore, protection mechanisms for in- 02/21/c_139757056.htm
tellectual properties of seed and breeding
should be intensified. Leading enterprises https://www.globaltimes.cn/
in the seed industry shall be supported to page/202102/1216103.shtml
establish and improve commercial breed- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-
ing systems. The construction of the Nan- china-56194622
fan Center for Seed and Animal Breeding,
the so-called “Southern Silicon Valley” in https://finance.sina.com.cn/tech/2021-02-
Hainan province, aims to strengthen the 26/doc-ikftpnny9758036.shtml
construction of seed production bases and https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/
improved seed breeding systems, to study asia_pacific/china-poverty-economy-
major varieties of research, development growth/2021/02/25/9e92cb18-7722-11eb-
and post-promotion subsidy policies, and 9489-8f7dacd51e75_story.html
to promote the integrated development
of breeding.
II Implications and potentials for Sino-
German Cooperation in agriculture
The No.1 Document could provide multiple
avenues to further Sino-German coopera-
tion in the agriculture sector. Germany can
share many lessons and experiences with
China learnt from its rural revitalization
initiatives; particularly, Germany’s green
development and the EU “green new deal”
5
Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
Tang Renjian Han Changfu
Good to Know "Establishing Agriculture's Tax-Free Era”.
Source: dimsums.blogspot, 22 December
2020
Politics and Law
Leadership change at Ministry for Agri- NPC reviews draft law on food waste
culture and Rural Affairs
On 22 December China’s top legislature, the
After being appointed as Party Secretary in Standing Committee of the National People’s
the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Congress (NPC), reviewed the first draft of a
in November 2020, Mr. Tang Renjian also proposed law on food waste. The law is seen
succeeded Mr. Han Changfu as new Minister as a crucial move to reduce food waste,
in December 2020. which is estimated to amount to 35 million
Before taking over his new positions in the tons of grain annually and 12 percent of Chi-
MARA, Tang Renjian, 58 years old and a na- na’s harvests along the production chain. A
tive of Chongqing, was governor of Gansu report based on a nationwide field survey
Province since 2017. He now replaces the 66- states that pre consumptions losses due to
year-old Han Changfu who has served as Min- outdated storage facilities, logistics and pro-
ister of Agriculture since 2009 and was head cessing technologies are heavy. The survey
of the Central Rural Work Group for the last also mentions that up to 18 million tons of
two years. food are wasted every year in the catering
industry.
Tang has been involved in a number of rural
policy and poverty alleviation working The 32-article draft law stipulates that the
groups, including the drafting of the 2004 governments above county level should es-
"Document No. 1" that launched China's first tablish banks and encourage food producers
program of rural subsidies and cancellation of to donate unsold edible food to people in
agricultural taxes. His works include need via social organisations and charities.
"Respond to the Challenge of Entering WTO Livestreaming and other programs about ex-
with the Strategy of Unbalanced Competi- cessive eating will be banned. The draft also
tion," "Developing 'Company Agriculture' and suggests restaurants should remind custom-
Agricultural Companies," "Nurturing Rural ers not to order too much.
Informal Financial Organizations," and
6
Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
ing ban also ecological restoration is re-
quired. One reason for the serious decline of
migratory fish is that their common routes
are cut off by hydropower dams, which – as
in the case of the Gezhouba dam – do not
include fish ladders.
https://www.thethirdpole.net/2020/11/24/
ten-year-yangtze-fishing-ban-not-enough-to-
save-migratory-species/
Call for improving China’s seed industry
and domestic animal breeding
According to the Central Economic Work
Conference that was held mid of December
“Clean plates look better”. Poster in a Beijing 2020, the improvement of China’s domestic
restaurant (photo: DCZ)
seed industry will be one of China’s major
strategies to ensure food security in the fu-
The Standing Committee of NPC also consid- ture. The call for development of a home-
ers a legislation on food security that takes grown industry for “microchips for agricul-
into account food waste. ture”, as the importance of seeds was la-
Source: Global Times, 22 December 2020 belled by some commentaries, comes in
times of continuing trade frictions with the
US, Australia and Canada. At present about
Yangtze River fishing bans comes into 10 percent of seeds for corn and 13 percent
effect for vegetables, notably broccoli, sugar beet
and onions, are supplied by foreign compa-
On 1 January 2021 a 10-year fishing ban nies. And according to official media, yield of
along the Yangzi-river basin came into effect. soybeans and corn grown from Chinese seed
According to MARA, more than 200,000 fish- supplies are lower than those of developed
ermen will be affected by the regulation and countries, and China cannot supply some
need to find new employments. It is hoped seeds for vegetables grown in greenhouses. It
that the seriously degraded ecosystem of is said the China’s entire seed industry’s in-
China’s largest river will recover and fish pop- vestment in research & development is less
ulation including endangered species will in- than half of the German company Bayer.
crease again. However, as some ecologists Consequently, China’s seed strategy seeks to
point out the fishing ban might not be strengthen the development of seed banks
enough to bring back some migratory fish and the collaboration between research insti-
such as the Chinese sturgeon and the Chinese tutes and seed companies. A center for seed
paddle fish which experts believe to be al- related research, also labeled as the “Silicon
ready extinct. They point out that over- Valley for Seed and Animal Breeding” is un-
fishing was not the only reason for declining der development near Sanya in the southern
fish populations but also habitat fragmenta- island of Hainan. In Hainan’s tropical climate,
tion by the massive transformation of the China also aims to develop advanced seed
river in the past decades. And beside the fish- varieties for export to neighbouring South
7
Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
Asian countries. genetically modified (GM) crops. Less than a
month after the Central Economic Work Con-
While some Chinese experts stress the pro- ference, the Chinese government approved
tection of “native” seeds that in recent years genetically modified corn developed by Chi-
are increasingly eliminated in the course of nese companies. On 11 January 2021, MARA
modern hybrid varieties, the call for innova- published a list of genetically modified crops
tive seed technologies is also a call for further for biosafety certificates. The list feature corn
domestic opening up for genome editing and varieties developed by Beijing Dabeinong
Graphs: Import and export of seeds to and from China (2014-2019) Source: China National Seed Trade Asso-
ciation (CNSTA); Analysis of 2019 China seed import export trade statistics 2019 中国种子贸易协会：2019
年中国农作物种子进出口贸易数据分析。
8Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
(DBN), a company engaged in swine produc- Amidst an international debate about the
tion and crop breeding. The approved variety origins of the COVID-19 virus Chinese author-
DBN9936 is resistant against the corn borer ities make efforts to prove that there is the
and tolerant to herbicide glyphosate. Anoth- possibility of virus transmission via imported
er approved variety has been DBN 9858 to frozen food. After single cases of infections of
prevent development of resistant pests. Both workers working in the cold chain industry
varieties are now approved for production in have been reported, Chinese authorities have
China’s major corn producing areas. focused their epidemic prevention work on
this sector of the food industry. Measures
For animal breeding the reliance on foreign
include testing and disinfection at customs,
breeds is even higher. About 80 percent of
protection of workers throughout the ship-
breeding Holstein Cattle is imported. China
ment chains, regular testing and, since Janu-
also imports 10,000 breeding pigs every year.
ary, also inoculation of workers. Although the
But imports increased after the ASF crisis. 40
WHO and international public health experts
percent of breeding pigs are imported from
say that the risk of becoming infected by
Denmark, but China is also importing from
touching food packaging is low, Chinese au-
other countries including France, Germany,
thorities want cold-chain products to be dis-
US and UK.
infected and imposed bans on firms whose
To reduce reliance on foreign breed Hubei products have tested positive. On 1 Novem-
Province will become China’s first high-end ber 2020, Beijing Municipality launched a
boar selection and breeding demonstration cold-chain tracing digital platform. As China
base, where cloning technologies will be ap- Dialogue reports, all imported frozen food
plied to protect endangered local boar spe- products, including beef, pork, poultry and
cies. The base in Jingmen, run by the Hubei fish have to be registered on the platform
Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Hubei before they can enter the Beijing market-
Jinbao boar genetic Technology Corp is in- place. Several other local governments in-
tended to protect precious and endangered cluding Wuxi in Jiangsu have introduced their
local boar species and break the foreign mo- own platforms. On 24 November, China’s
nopoly of some top breeds and make China’s State Council ordered an “Imported food cold
pork industry more independent. chain comprehensive disinfection work pro-
Sources: Global Times 18 and 30 December gram” that requires frozen food to be held
2020, Dim Sums 17 January 2021 separately in ports, tested, and disinfected,
before being released to the domestic mar-
For more information about China’s seed sec- ket. Massive testing campaigns have found
tor, please also check DCZ’s recent study traces of the virus on a handful of boxes of
“Seed Market in China” (2020) by Liu Yong- imported frozen meat and seafood, none of
gong und Ba Feng. PDF available at https:// the food inside the boxes tested positive.
www.dcz-china.org/en/dcz-publications.html According to a spokesperson of the National
Food Safety Risk Assessment Center, positive
results were only found in 4.8 out 100,000
Economics and Trade samples tested. Most positive tests of im-
ported meat and seafood have been found in
COVID 19 impacts - Anti-COVID storage warehouses in ports such as Dalian,
measures on imported frozen food Tianjin and Yingkou. In Shanghai, the largest
port for imported meat, in November about
130,000 samples of imported food were
9Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
taken, but none tested positive. However, points of travel traceable. This includes fro-
there were single reports about Argentinian zen grain products (such as noodles), dairy
and Brazilian meat that were tested positive products (such as ice cream), frozen vegeta-
several months after the shipment reached bles, fruits and drinks. No company or indi-
the Shanghai port. It was also reported that vidual should purchase, operate, use,
imports of those companies, where food transport or store any cold-chain foods that
packages had tested positive, would be sus- do not have traceable data, including certifi-
pended. In early November Chinese media cates and inspection and quarantine. Data
linked a package of German pork knuckles shall be uploaded on the platform “Beijing
imported from Bremen via Tianjin to a small- cold-chain”.
er outbreak in a community in Tianjin’s har-
Some analysts fear that the policies on han-
bour district Binhai. Later, after the interven-
dling imported frozen food have an impact
tion of the German Ministry for Food and
on food supply and market prices. In fact,
Agriculture (BMEL), who according to Global
China imported a record of 7.4 million metric
Times stated “it was unlikely that the German
tons of meat in the first three quarters of
pork knuckles had triggered the infections in
2020. An increase of 2.23 million tons of im-
China”, the Tianjin Center for Disease Control
ported pork made up for the ASF related de-
and Prevention corrected their investigation
cline in Chinese pork production. The stricter
results and now stated “that the recent infec-
screening at the customs and disinfection
tions were caused by pig heads from North
rules also have led to a congestion of har-
America, which contaminated pork knuckles
bours, because now it takes several days
from Germany”.
longer to unload shipments. According to a
End of January the Beijing local government report by Bloomberg at the end of January,
announced that it will further strengthen su- hundreds of containers were being held up in
pervision of imported cold-chain food. The Dalian, one of China’s major ports for sea-
city ordered that from 12 February all import- food imports. Some supermarkets also report
ed foods stored at temperatures of 0 degrees a sharp decline in demand for fish products,
and below must make their sources and as consumers are reluctant to buy frozen
food.
Sources: Dimsums blogspot 21 December
2020; SCMP 11 November 2020; Global
Times 11, 15, 24, 25 November 2020; China
Dialogue, Bloomberg 31 January 2021
EU regulation for organic food imports
from China makes testing for pesticide
residues mandatory
The “Guidelines on additional controls on
products originating from China” (effective
from 01/01/21 to 31/12/21) introduce strict-
er controls for pesticide residues in organic
food and feed originating from China, specifi-
Screenshot Global times cally cereals, oil seed and oleaginous fruits,
10Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
seeds and fruit, industrial or medicinal plants,
straw and fodder, residues and waste from
food industries and Goji berries as well as
products processed from them. All consign-
ments of the mentioned products are re-
quired to come with complete documenta-
tion (certificate of inspection, customs decla-
ration, transport documents and operators
and product traceability from farmer to ex-
porter and operators in between). At least
one sample for pesticide testing shall be tak-
en per consignment by using methods de-
scribed by EU regulations conducted in ac-
credited laboratories. If pesticides residues or
other irregularities are detected, a notifica-
tion to the EU Commissions Organic Farming
Information System (OFIS) shall be made.
The guidelines further note that due to With a share of 12.7 percent (2019) China is
COVID-19 pandemic the implementation of the leading exporter of organic food and feed
some measures might be hampered in some to the EU. In 2019 oil cakes (which are used
member states, but as soon as related re- as animal feed) made up two third of these
strictions have been lifted the measures exports.
should be fully implemented.
Source: EU imports of organic agri-food
https://ec.europa.eu/info/ products https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/
sites/info/files/food-farming-fisheries/ info/files/food-farming-fisheries/farming/
farming/ documents/market-brief-organic-imports-
documents/guidelines-addoffctrl- june2020_en.pdf
china_en.pdf
11Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
China’s 2020 meat imports close to a https://www.thepigsite.com/news/2021/01/
record of 10 million tons burger-kings-plant-based-whopper-making-
progress-step-by-step-in-china
Even a slowdown of shippings by COVID-19
testing in the second half of the year did not In a similar move, the 24-hour Cantonese
have an impact on last year’s massive in- chain Jin Ding Xuan (金鼎轩) announced in
crease of meat imports. In 2020 China im- January that they will include plant-based
ported a record of 9.91 million tons. Howev- meat from the US based producer Beyond
er, this trend seems not to last. In 2020 China Meat to the menu of all their 18 outlets in
heavily invested in restocking the pig farms Beijing.
which had been affected by ASF. Rabobank
therefore expects a pork production growth
by 10% in 2021 and a decline in imports by 30 Science
percent.
Five Chinese agricultural universities
https://www.agriculture.com/markets/
among the top ten of world agricultural
newswire/update-3-china-2020-meat-
imports-close-to-10-mln-tonnes-up-60-on- universities
year According to the Academic Ranking of World
Universities (Shanghai Ranking), Chinese Uni-
versities are among the top agriculture uni-
Burger King introduces plant-based versities of the world. In the 2020 Ranking in
WHOPPER in China the category agricultural sciences five Chi-
nese universities are among the ten top agri-
In late December 2020 Burger King launched cultural universities of the world (China Agri-
a new plant-based Whopper in 325 outlets in cultural University rank 2, Nanjing Agricultur-
Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hangzhou. al University rank 3, Northwest Agriculture
The new product can also be ordered from and Forestry University rank 4, Huazhong
online platforms such es ELEME and Meituan. Agricultural University rank 6 and Zhejiang
University rank 9).
12Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
Source: http://www.shanghairanking.com/Shanghairanking-Subject-Rankings/agricultural-sciences.html
New project launched to strengthen toring. Through cooperating with the Group
global agricultural drought monitoring on Earth Observations (GEO) and its mem-
bers, the project will focus on establishing a
Chinese scientists and their foreign counter- global agricultural drought monitoring sys-
parts have launched a new project to foster tem with the Fengyun-3D, providing timely
cooperation in strengthening global agricul- agricultural drought information services for
tural drought monitoring, according to the worldwide users. The project will also help to
China Academy of Agricultural Sciences innovate monitoring models and technical
(CAAS). The project has been jointly initiated methods, and improve the international ap-
by several organizations including the CAAS, plication of Fengyun-3D satellite data. It is
National Satellite Meteorological Center, Bei- expected to strengthen the cooperation and
jing Normal University as well as research exchange between China and the member
institutes from France, Spain, the United countries of the GEO.
States and Israel.
Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/
China's meteorological satellite Fengyun-3D english/2021-02/13/c_139741017.htm
has global observation capability and good
application prospects in global drought moni-
13Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
Unhealthy diets, lack of exercise: over The 6th Sino-German Agricultural Week
half of Chinese adults overweight (DCAW) was held from 30 November to 3
December 2020 at Yanqi Lake, Huairou, Bei-
More than half of the adults in China are jing, as well as an online event. As an im-
overweight according to the 2020 Nutrition portant bilateral exchange and dialogue
and Chronic Disease Status Report released platform in agriculture, the event was jointly
by China’s National Health Commission. The sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Agricul-
report which is based on data of nearly 600 ture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and the Ger-
million people the nationwide average man Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
weight of men is 69.6 kg and of women 59 kg (BMEL) and organized by the Sino-German
and increased compared to a survey conduct- Agricultural Centre (DCZ).
ed in 2015. The survey showed that a lack of
physical exercise as well as excessive con- Due to its hybrid character as an online and
sumption of meat and low consumption of on-site event, this year’s conference could
fruit, soy and dairy products contributed to not only host many high-ranking speakers
the overweight. About 10 percent of children and stakeholders at the venue, but also re-
under 6 years and up to 20 percent of chil- ceived recorded video speeches and real-
dren in the age between 6 and 17 years are time online contributions from Germany and
obese. For this age group frequent consump- even California. With a daily attendance of
tion of sugary soft drinks is a prominent over 10.000 hits, the viewers of the online
cause. live stream clearly outnumbered the approx.
140 participants on site. Several Chinese me-
Source: Global Times, 21 December 2020 dia reported about the event. Day 3 of the
DCAW, the Open Day, was also on the news
on CCTV-17, the “Agriculture Channel” of the
DCZ Activities Chinese Central TV Stations.
Instead of a separate event, the Agribusiness
th
6 Sino-German Agricultural Week held Conference was incorporated in this year’s
DCAW and, therefore, the DCZ compiled a
in Beijing
The DCZ Team
(Source: DCZ)
14Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
program of four full days with a tight sched-
ule of comprehensive presentations and pan-
el discussions:
• The Agribusiness Conference on
“Modern Farm Management”
• The Sino-German Agricultural Policy Dia-
logue on “Smart Agriculture”
• The “Open Day” as main event
• The Science and Technology Platform’s
“Forum on Security and Nutrition in a
Changing World”
In parallel to these events the Bilateral Coop-
eration Project on Animal Breeding and Hus-
bandry held two symposiums on pig and
cattle breeding on 1 and 3 of December, re-
spectively. Vice-Minister Zhang Taolin, ambassador Clemens von Goetze
(Source: DCZ)
The Agribusiness Dialogue on 30 December
was opened by speeches of Mr. Zhang Tian- Berns (BMEL) who also is the Political Direc-
zuo, Director General of the Department of tor of the DCZ. Many high-ranking speakers
Cooperative Economy in MARA, and a record- from research and business shared their per-
ed video message by Mr. Bruno Hoffstadt, spectives on state-of-the-art technologies for
Head of the Division of International Projects digital agriculture. Dr. Jürgen Ritter presented
and Twinning in the BMEL. In presentations the DCZ video output summarizing the virtual
by academics, practitioners, and local author- study tour on this topic to Germany and
ity representatives modern farm manage- France and announced the launch of the DCZ
ment by means of higher standardization, website on Smart Agriculture (www.smart-
intensification of production and different agriculture.org). Prof. Wu Wenbin (CAAS)
operational structures (family farms, cooper- moderated the final panel discussion on mu-
atives) was outlined. Modern milk production tual learning in smart agriculture with experts
in one of the 14 German experimental fields from China and Germany.
(DigiMilch) was presented by Dr. Isabella Lo-
renzini via Zoom. In a panel discussion the The main event of 6th DCAW, the “Open
question of how modern farm management Day”, was held on 2 December under the
can contribute to the modernization of agri- heading “Sino-German Agricultural Coopera-
culture and rural revitalization was discussed. tion in a Changing Environment” with contri-
butions by high-level VIPs: while Mr. Hans-
On 1 December, the Sino-German Agricultur- Joachim Fuchtel, Parliamentary State Secre-
al Policy Dialogue on Smart Agriculture was tary of BMEL delivered a pre-recorded
opened by a keynote speech by Mr. Wang speech, Mr. Zhang Taolin, Vice Minister of
Bin, Deputy Director General of the Depart- MARA, and Dr. Clemens von Goetze, Ambas-
ment of Policy and Reform in MARA, and rec- sador of Germany in China, attended the
orded opening remarks by the Deputy Direc- opening session in person and delivered wel-
tor General of International Cooperation and come addresses.
World Food Affairs (BMEL), Ms. Cornelia
15Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
Cooperation between China and Germany Institute for Agricultural Economics and De-
was addressed from different perspectives: velopment) and Prof. Matin Qaim (University
Mr. Axel Wildner (Agricultural Counsellor at of Göttingen) discussed the impact of COVID-
the German Embassy) presented the current 19 on global food security and trends and
situation of Sino-German trade cooperation challenges for sustainable food systems. In
and Mr. Damien Plan (Agricultural Counsellor the panel on global and domestic food securi-
from the EU Delegation in China) introduced ty Prof. Si Wei from China Agriculture Univer-
the “Agreement on Mutual Recognition of sity elaborated on food security and soybean
Geographical Indications for Agricultural trade, Dr. Felicitas Schneider from Thünen-
Products between China and the EU” which Institute for Market-analysis spoke about
only recently has been signed by both sides. international initiatives for avoiding food loss
Furthermore, achievements from other bilat- and waste.
eral Sino-German cooperation projects in the
Prof. Wu Wenbin (CAAS) presented SAGI, an
field of agriculture were presented, while,
integrated digital crop monitoring system. In
finally, the panelists discussed future cooper-
her presentation Prof. Sonoko Bellingrath-
ation in changing environments.
Kimura from the Leibniz Institute for Agricul-
The “Forum on Food Security and Nutrition in tural Landscape Research (ZALF) showed how
a Changing World” was organized by the DCZ with help of digital technologies ecosystem
Science and Technology Platform in coopera- services and biodiversity protection can be
tion with the Chinese Academy of Agricultur- improved. In the second panel on “Nutrition”
al Sciences (CAAS) on 3 December. This event Dr. Lena Kuhn (IAMO) elaborated on how
also could welcome about 140 on-site visi- international food trade impacts the dietary
tors, including Chinese and international diversity, and Prof. Zhu Dazhou, Institute for
graduates and PhD students from different Food and Nutrition Development of MARA,
CAAS institutes and China Agricultural Uni- discussed nutritional quality analysis and as-
versity (CAU) as well as 70 online partici- sessment of food. The concluding discussion
pants. was opened by a keynote by Prof. Hans Her-
ren (World Food Prize Winner 1995 and CEO
Following the opening remarks by CAAS vice
of Millennium Institute) with a call for trans-
president Prof. Sun Tan and Ms. Maja
formation of our food systems and action on
Clausen (BMEL, Division Research and Inno-
preserving soil as the most crucial resource
vation), excellent speakers shared their
for food security.
views. In their keynotes Prof. Li Xiande (CAAS
16
Source: DCZSino-German Agricultural and Food Update
Presentations of the 6th Sino-German Agricul-
tural Week are available at the DCZ website:
https://www.dcz-china.org/en/6th-sino-
german-agricultural-week-2020.html
Participation in Seminar on EU-China
Agreement on Geographical Indications
(GIs)
On 17 November 2020, DCZ managing direc-
tor Dr. Jürgen Ritter and DCZ science advisor
Dr. Eva Sternfeld participated in a seminar of
the EU-China Partnership Facility. The semi-
nar was organized to inform about the EU-
China Agreement on protecting Geographical
Indications (GIs) which had been signed at
the EU-China summit on 14 September 2020.
The bilateral agreement protects 100 Europe-
an GIs in China and 100 Chinese GIs in the groundwork for today’s cooperation.
European Union against usurpation and imi-
tation. The agreement is expected to enter At the seminar, Mr. Zhang Zhicheng, Director
into force at the beginning of 2021. General, Department of IP Protection, Na-
tional Intellectual Property Administration,
Please find the list of all protected GIs: and Mr. Damien Plan, Agricultural Counsellor
https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/ in the EU Delegation to China, explained the
food-farming-fisheries/ importance of the new agreement for
food_safety_and_quality/documents/china- strengthening bilateral trade and ensuring
100-named-products-eu-china- consumers of a guaranteed quality of prod-
agreement_en.pdf ucts. According to a press release of the EU
Commission, the Chinese market has a high-
With more than 3,000 EU names registered
growth potential for European food and
as GI, EU quality policy aims at protecting the
drinks. In 2019, imports of EU agri-food prod-
names of specific products to promote their
ucts reached 14.5 billion EURO. China was
unique characteristics linked to their geo-
the second destination of EU exports of prod-
graphical origin as well as traditional know-
ucts protected as GIs, including wines, agri-
how. Around 1,250 non-EU GIs are protected
food products and spirit drinks. In addition,
within the EU, thanks to similar bilateral
European consumers will be able to discover
agreements such as the one with China. In
genuine Chinese specialties.
value terms, the market for EU geographical
indications is around 74.8 billion EURO, or The EU list of GIs to be protected in China
6.8% of EU food and drink, and exports of includes iconic products such as Champagner,
16.9 billion EURO accounting for 15.4% of Feta, Irish Whiskey, Münchner Bier, Bayrisch-
total EU food and drink export. EU-China co- es Bier, Rheinhessen, Mosel and Franken
operation on this matter started in 2006 and wines, Ouzo, Polska Wodka, Prosciutto di Par-
resulted in the protection of 10 GI names on ma and Queso Manchego. The list of Chinese
both sides 2012. This agreement was the GIs includes Pu’er Cha (Puer Tea), Anxi
17Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
Tieguanyin (Tea), Fuzhou Yasmine Tea, Tur- More: https://china-in-europe.net/chinese-
pan Raisin, Mount Emei Tea, Shaoxing Rice investment-in-europe-entering-an-uncharted
Wine, Jinhua Pork, Sichuan Paocai (Sichuan -territory/
Style Pickles). The seminar was concluded by
an exhibition of selected Chinese and Europe-
an GI food and beverages. Participation in “Insights on Agriculture
and Rural Affairs” Forum by CAAS
On 15 January 2021, at the invitation of the
Participation in Workshop “Chinese In-
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science
vestment in Europe”
(CAAS), Dr. Jürgen Ritter, German Managing
On 14 December 2020, at the invitation of Director of the Sino-German Agricultural Cen-
the China-Europe Research Network tre, Dr. Eva Sternfeld and Dr. Aihemaitijiang
(CHERN), Dr. Eva Sternfeld participated in a Rouzi participated in the 17th “Insights on
Zoom workshop titled “Chinese investment in Agriculture and Rural Affairs” Forum. The
Europe: Entering an uncharted territory”, regular academic forum where scientists,
jointly organized by the Center for Economic policy makers and private businesses share
and Regional Studies (CERS), Corvinius Uni- experiences and ideas on the “Three Rural
versity, Hungary and the University College Affairs” of China (Agriculture, Rural Develop-
Cork, Ireland. The workshop focused on Chi- ment, Farmers) is jointly organized by the
nese investments in the European agriculture Center for Strategic Research and the Insti-
and food sector and the health sector. In her tute for Agriculture Economy and Develop-
presentation Eva Sternfeld introduced the ment of CAAS. The focus of the 17th edition
activities of the DCZ in recent years. Howev- which was moderated by CAAS vice president
er, as she and also the presentation of Niall Prof. Mei Xurong were trends in rural con-
Duggan (University College Cork) showed, struction and infrastructure development. In
Chinese investment in the European agricul- this context Dr. Ritter was invited to give a
ture and food sector so far have been con- presentation entitled “Experiences from Ger-
centrating on a few countries and items, and man Rural Development” in which he intro-
for the German agriculture and food sector duced the status quo and challenges in rural
so far no Chinese investments are reported. development of Germany and funding and
support opportunities available for various
revitalization projects.
Source: DCZ
18Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
Other speakers included Prof. Zhu Qizhen, DCZ S&T Platform participates in the In-
head of the Research Institute for Peasants’ ternational Conference on Progress in
Issues of the China Agricultural University, Manure and Digestate (Jan. 25-27)
who stressed in his presentation the im-
portance of local farmers and limiting eco- On 26 January the S&T platform in collabora-
nomic factors to be observed while undertak- tion with the Department for International
ing rural infrastructure development. Re- Cooperation and the Institute for Environ-
searcher Li Guoxiang from the Rural Develop- ment and Sustainable Development in Agri-
ment Institute of the Chinese Academy of culture (IEDA) of the Chinese Academy of
Social Sciences emphasized in his presenta- Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) organized a pan-
tion that rural infrastructure will be a key el on “Animal manure management practices
component of the “14th Five-Year Plan (2021- in China and Germany” at the international
2025) for Economic and Social Development online conference “Progress in Manure &
and future targets for 2035”. Researcher Li Digestate. Science Meets Practice” by the
Yurui from the Institute for Geography and IBBK-Biogas competence network. The partic-
Natural Resources of the Chinese Academy of ipation in the conference also marked the
Sciences outlined in his presentation the dis- kick-off for this year’s virtual study tour on
crepancies between investment for rural and “Animal Manure Utilization” in Germany,
urban infrastructure, demographic and social which has been designed by DCZ in close co-
challenges in rural areas and proposed an operation with Prof. Walter Stinner from the
integrated development plan that could over- German Biomass Research Center (DBFZ) and
come these challenges. Researcher Wang Prof. Dong Hongmin from IEDA. DCZ spon-
Shaojun from the Institute for Agricultural sored the conference participation fee for 15
Economics and Development of CAAS fo- participants from China, including research-
cused in her presentation on issues related to ers from IEDA, the Biomass Research Institute
road construction in rural areas and how to of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and
address them in a holistic way. In an online Rural Affairs (MARA), the China Agricultural
presentation Mr. Ren Qiangjun, vice director University, the Nanjing Institute of Agricultur-
of agricultural division of Anji county, al Mechanization, the Jilin Academy of Agri-
Zhejiang Province, shared the success story cultural Sciences, the Liaoning Institute of
of Anji county which has become a national Energy Research as well as researchers from
model for successful establishment of rural Chinese companies. Despite the time differ-
cooperatives and development of rural tour- ence between Europe and Asia, which meant
ism. that most events of the conference were
scheduled in late evening Beijing time, there
In the final session Prof. Mei Xurong invited was strong participation from China in the
the roundtable experts including several vice conference, showing the great interest in the
directors and party secretaries of several topic of manure treatment and biogas. 61
CAAS institutes and journalists from Farmers participants attended the China/Germany
Daily to comment on the presentations and panel. In her introduction DCZ Science Advi-
share their opinions and suggestions. The sor Dr. Eva Sternfeld introduced the DCZ and
session ended with a comprehensive conclu- the collaboration with CAAS and outlined the
sion by Mr. Zhang Hecheng, Party Secretary context of the panel within the framework of
of CAAS. the upcoming virtual study tour on animal
manure utilization with upcoming workshops
in April and early summer.
19Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update Dr. Sternfeld’s introduction was followed by a Animal Waste on Agricultural Land by MARA presentation by Dr. Liu Yi from the Biomass and standards for irrigation water quality and Research Institute of MARA. In his presenta- for discharge of pollutants from livestock and tion Dr. Liu Yi outlined the development of animal breeding. biogas in China. He showed that although the majority of biogas plants are small and medi- um sized facilities there is a trend in recent years towards large, centralized facilities. After a steep increase of small facilities in the first decade of this century, in the past years the number of smaller facilities has been de- creasing while the share of energy produced by large facilities considerably increased. Ac- cording to Dr. Liu, China’s Biogas industry developed in three stages: the first stage, starting from 1970s, was focusing on small household digesters and intended to supply farmers in remote rural areas with energy for cooking, in the second phase biogas develop- ment has been promoted for environmental protection reasons, by feeding biogas plants with agricultural waste; in the third phase the mitigation of Greenhouse gases became an important driver for the development. As Dr. Liu noted, in China economic benefits have not been the driver for biogas development, but environmental and climate protection benefits. In the final part of this presentation Dr. Liu also elaborated on the Chinese regula- tions related to digestate and animal manure utilization including the Guideline for Using Source: DCZ 20
Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
In her presentation Prof. Dong Hongmin, the results of his PhD research on “Ensiling
deputy director of the CAAS Institute for En- excessively wilted maize stover with biogas
vironment and Sustainable Development in slurry”.
Agriculture and DCZ partner for facilitating
The last two speakers brought in the German
the virtual study, provided an overview on
perspective. In his presentation Walter Stin-
the “Animal Utilization Practices in China”.
ner, who is also DCZ’s lead expert for the de-
Dong explained that at the present stage di-
sign of the virtual study tour, elaborated on
rect land application is the dominant practice
the “Emission Reduction in the Manure
for manure and slurry management from pig
Chain” as digestate treatment and utilization
and dairy farms. About 10 percent of solid
is one of the most emission relevant part of
manure is further processed and applied as
the biogas technology. He discussed the Ger-
commercial organic fertilizer and only 6.5
man target for GHG emission reduction and
percent of solid and 20 percent liquid parts is
the potential for emission reduction in the
used for biogas production. As challenges for
different stages of the process of manure and
manure management Prof. Dong mentioned
digestate treatment. The last speaker in this
the contradiction between small-scale crop
panel was Dr. Britt Schumacher, who is pro-
farmers (as the majority of Chinese farmers
ject manager for biogas technology at the
have only about or even less than one ha
DBFZ and project leader of the project
farmland) and the increasing number of large
“Energetic utilization of agricultural residues
-scale livestock farms. Therefore, in China it is
in China and Germany (ChinaRes)” (https://
considered to involve third parties for organ-
izing the transportation and supply of ma- www.dbfz.de/projektseiten/chinares/
nure. But how to organize this system is still projekt). She presented the results of a re-
under discussion. Another challenge is how cent survey of German biogas plant opera-
to ensure the safety and avoid potential pol- tors. Results showed that since 2012 there is
lution from heavy metal and antibiotics in no significant increase in the German biogas
animal manure. sector and that new construction was limited
to manure based small-scale plants. Howev-
The third Chinese speaker was Sun Hui from er, results of the survey also showed that
China Agricultural University who presented construction costs (EURO/kWel) tend to be
21Sino-German Agricultural and Food Update
higher with a higher share of animal manure. Bilateral Research Cooperation
The participation in the IBBK conference
marked the successful start of the virtual
DFG and NSFC fund German-Chinese
study tour, which will be continued in early
project on ecosystem services
April 2021 with a two-day seminar on
“Environmental and administrative aspects of The joint application from the Leibniz Center
animal manure utilization”. for Agriculture Landscape Research (ZALF)
and the Institute of Geographic Sciences
The presentations of Sun Hui, Walter Stinner
(IGSNRR), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
and Britt Schumacher are available for down-
has been approved by the Mobility
load from our www.dcz-china.org. More
Programme of the Sino-German Center for
about IBBK: ibbk-biogas.com. Also read
Research Promotion (SGC). The programme is
IBBK’s report about all three days of the con-
supported by the Deutsche
ference https://ibbk-biogas.com/progress-
Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) and the
manure-digestate-online-jan2021/
National Science Foundation of China (NSFC).
The aim of the project is to develop a
coordinated, efficient and sustainable
DCZ in the Media management and financing mechanism for
ecosystem services considering the contexts
in Germany and China.
“Growth Center” – Article in China Daily
The ZALF working group of “Governance of
introduces the DCZ
Ecosystem Services” will coordinate the
FECC director Dr. Zhang Lubiao and FECC/DCZ German side of the mobility program, while
project manager Guo Xin have published an Leibniz University Hannover and Humboldt
article titled “Growth Center” in China’s ma- University of Berlin will make important
jor English language newspaper to introduce contributions. The IGSNRR will coordinate the
the Sino-German Agricultural Centre and its Chinese side, together with the Chinese
achievements since its founding in 2015 as Academy of Environmental Planning and
well as to give an outlook for the planned South China Agricultural University. The
activities in the course of the upcoming 14th project is financed for three years from
Five-Year-Plan. It was emphasised that as a 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2023.
platform for agricultural cooperation the cen-
For more information please contact the
tre sets a focus on bilateral exchange on
project coordinator Chen Cheng at ZALF
technological innovation, control of plant and
(Cheng.chen@zalf.de) or follow the updates
animal diseases, protection of rural environ-
on their website: https://www.zalf.de/en/
ment, rural governance and training of agri-
aktuelles/PagesPB2/DFG_NSFC.aspx
cultural personnel.
More information : http://
epaper.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202101/22/
WS600a0b4fa31099a234353710.html
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